- Attendance
Attendance — GRCHS
School attendance is compulsory by Michigan law. Grand Rapids Christian High School is responsible to keep complete attendance records. Regular school attendance is extremely important and essential for successful school progress.
Our attendance policy encourages punctuality and regular attendance in all classes. Our school is set up to provide students with certain freedoms in their learning environment. However, habitual attendance infractions will result in loss of those school privileges. Attendance is very important for these reasons:
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Excessive absence is detrimental to the learning process and disruptive to the student’s education
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The classroom is a setting where spiritual, intellectual, and interpersonal exchanges take place, therefore, it is very important to be present for these learning experiences
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It is important to develop good work habits including punctuality and good attendance. These skills will prepare students for higher education and lifetime work
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God calls us to use our time wisely and be respectful to our teachers and classmates
Attendance Procedures for Parents and Students
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Attendance is taken and recorded at the start of every period
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Students that arrive at school after the bell rings, must sign-in in the office
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If students need to leave for any reason, they must have parent communication with the attendance supervisor and sign out with them in the main office. Students who do not have parental permission will be held at school until parents are contacted to give permission for leaving.
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If a student leaves campus without signing out, it may result in school consequences including loss of school privileges, possible Lunch Reflection, and parent communication. See restricted campus policy.
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Attendance is the student’s responsibility. If a student needs to miss class for illness and/or appointments, the parent/guardian must contact the attendance supervisor by phone or email before the start of the school day. Absences not excused within 24 hours may be treated as unexcused absences.
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The attendance line (616.574.5521) is available 24 hours a day. Parents can report absences via email, phone, or ParentVue.
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If a student has health care provider appointments during the day, scheduling those, whenever possible, during a student’s responsibility period, skills class or during lunch break, will limit the academic impact of the absence.
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Parents receive daily notifications via phone about unexcused absences
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Parents are encouraged to check their student’ s attendance and academic records regularly through ParentVue.
Excessive Absences
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Excessive absence is an academic detriment. Therefore, students that exceed eight absences in a class may be removed from the course, and will not receive credit.
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If absences are beyond the student's control, such as extended or chronic illness, or family emergency, the student may remain in the class with a doctor's note or other appropriate documentation and administrative approval. If excessive absences result in a lack of evidence of proficiency on course learning targets, credit may be assigned instead of a letter grade.
Tardiness
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Late arrival to class that does not exceed 10 minutes is recorded as a tardy. Students who are more than 10 minutes late will generally be counted as absent. If there is a school-related issue for arriving late, teacheers may remove the tardy.
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Beyond three tardies in one class is considered excessive
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Excessive tardies and/or other attendance-related infractions will result in a loss of school privileges.
Students who are excessively tardy may expect the following:
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Third tardy: Student must complete a Reflection Goal Sheet, cell phone will be checked in for the day and communication home.
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Fourth tardy: Cell phone check in for the week and student will be issued a Tardy Agreement/Contract.
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Fifth tardy and beyond: Cell phone check for the week PLUS one week of Lunch Reflection and Parent Resolution Meeting.
Unexcused Absences
Unexcused absences will result in the following consequences:
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1st, 2nd and 3rd unexcused absence - Email reminder to the parents and students importance of being at school and the Attendance Policy
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4th unexcused absence - Cell phone check in for the remainder of day and the following day and parent/guardian communication.
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5th unexcused absence - Cell phone check in for the week and Attendance Agreement/Contract, parent/guardian communication.
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6th unexcused absence - Cell phone check in for the week PLUS one week of Lunch Reflection, loss of school privileges and a meeting with Assistant Principal, Parent and Student to discuss Attendance Agreement/Contract.
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If improvements are not noted, a referral for Truancy Action will be made to the Kent County Attendance Officer.
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Students that exceed 8 total absences (unexcused and/or excused) in a class may be removed from the course, and they may not receive credit.
There are no school-authorized skip days for any grade level, including seniors. Students who choose to declare such a day and not show up for classes are considered unexcused. The consequences of unexcused absences will be imposed.
Learning Lunch: Meet in the Garage facilitated by the dean of students and counselors
Pre-Approved Absences
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Pre-approved absences for non-academic reasons while school is in session are strongly discouraged by the school. However, parents may request that the school approve a student’s absence provided the request is made at least three days prior to the date of the absence by use of a pre-approved absence form.
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Pre-approved absences are limited to a maximum of five days per school year. Families requesting more than five days must receive an administrative waiver.
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Teachers may require the student to complete assessments and assignments prior to the pre-approved absences. In cases where the work is to be completed when the student returns, the teacher will establish a time frame for completion of the work.
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It should be noted that the responsibility for making up missed work is solely that of the student and the family.
- Pre-approved absences are not permitted during exams and are strongly discouraged during the last three weeks of each semester.
School-Related Absences
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Students must limit the number of school-related activities that will result in missed classes.
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Students have the option to decline participation in school-related activities that take them out of other classes if they feel that missing other classes creates an undue academic hardship.
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Teachers and administrators may assist students in limiting those activities if they result in excessive absenteeism or become detrimental to academic or class participation.
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Students are responsible for all work missed during a school-related absence. The work missed may be due on the day of return.
Chapel and Community/Focus Time Attendance
Attendance is mandatory in chapel, community time, and focus time. Students are expected to sit with their small group leaders in their assigned seat.
Students who choose to skip chapel, community time, or focus time may expect the same consequences as skipping a class.
andbook language
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1st offense - Cell phone check in for the remainder of day and the following day, parent/guardian communication.
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2nd offense - Cell phone check in for the week and Skip Agreement/Contract, parent/guardian communication.
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3rd offense - Cell phone check in for the week PLUS one week of Lunch Reflection, parent/guardian meeting.
Extra-Curricular Events
In order to participate in any extracurricular practice or event, students must be in attendance at school by 10:00 am of the day and finish the day at school. Exceptions include a doctor’s appointment with a doctor’s note, college visit, or funeral. Students should clear those absences with the attendance supervisor prior to missing school.
- GRCHS